to be honest, mr. cummings was helpful when i called him and asked for this interview with the regional security officer. and he helped make it happen the same day. so we do have a working relationship. we do not often sign on to letters. partially because that can take several days. >> and what about -- >> the letter is -- >> i just want to ask you, sorry, a final question about the timing of this. obviously, it's important to know who knew what, when, and if the ball was dropped. i don't know if there is any american, republican or democrat, who would disagree on that. but why ahead of the presidential election -- when you yourself said sometimes it takes time to get the final answers? >> erin, we sent a letter on september 20th that wouldn't responded to as of yesterday. subcommittee chairman chaffetz sent that letter. we started this right away. we continued pursuing it. but let's understand, men and women are serving us overseas around the world. and if what happened in libya happens again because